The Lexington St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday brought one of the first signs of spring: the spotting of the candidates. Each candidate and their supporters either walk or ride. If they walk, they also have a vehicle they walk in front of or beside.
This year, the vehicles of the two candidates spoke volumes about which one was conscious of tight budget times, and which one was filthy rich. Renee True, seen at the right, was first in the parade. True quit in 2008, halfway through her elected term, in order to suck the maximum amount of taxpayer pension money out of the state. Now, she wants to draw that high pension and also receive another full-time salary for the job she quit in 2008. So what kind of car does Renee True drive?
Porsche: There is no alternative.
In addition to Renee True’s yellow Porsche, her caravan included a yellow golf cart, a supersized pickup, and of course, a yellow Humvee. Few if any True supporters walked and interacted. Presumably, only the “little people” press flesh, and that doesn’t mean leprechauns. True has also made headlines by arguing that the state’s ethics laws do not apply to her.
David O’Neill, the current PVA, was also in the parade. O’Neill took the bloated office budget of the PVA’s office, sold vehicles, and made three sets of budget cuts from True’s proposed budget two years ago. So is it any surprise that O’Neill’s chariot was slightly more economical? That’s right, the red 1994 Toyota Corolla that O’Neill owns, along with a caravan that included a bicycle and a pickup.
David O’Neill walked both sides of the street, while someone else had the dubious honor of driving the Corolla, which held up nicely through the parade.
In addition to knowing how to cut waste from the budget at a time when all Kentuckians are hurting, O’Neill also has avoided the charges of unethical conduct and nepotism that tend to expand wasteful spending. That may be why the Fayette County Young Democrats today announced their endorsement of David O’Neill for Fayette County PVA:
Fayette County Young Democrats Endorse David O’Neill for PVA.
Lexington, KY – March 16, 2010 – The Fayette County Young Democrats have endorsed David O’Neill for PVA in the upcoming May 18 Democratic Primary. O’Neill, appointed last year by Governor Beshear to PVA when his now opponent vacated the office, has worked diligently to make the PVA office work better for the residents of Fayette County. The Fayette County Young Democrats point to three major reasons to keep David O’Neill as our PVA.
Financial Responsibility
David O’Neill works daily to ensure sound financial stewardship of taxpayer monies. Since his appointment, O’Neill has voluntarily cut the last two consecutive PVA budgets by 5.8% and 8.1% respectively, overseen the reduction of the PVA vehicle fleet by 45%, and incorporated the utilization of GIS mapping technologies that provide higher quality results at a lower cost to the citizens of Fayette County.
Quality, Trustworthy Service
David O’Neill has demonstrated that the PVA can work for the people! As PVA, O’Neill has instilled a vision for the office that focuses on transparency, cost efficiency, updated technology (to meet industry standards) and quality customer service. O’Neill has placed a great focus on educating taxpayers on how assessments are made, the appeal process and information on exemptions, particularly the Homestead Exemption for older homeowners. The Fayette County Young Democrats applaud his efforts to ensure public trust! At O’Neill’s direction, each office expenditure is posted online for public review and the free accessible content on the PVA website has been expanded. Additionally, since taking office, O’Neill has overseen the correction of some 2,000 erroneous ownership records in an effort to accurately and efficiently discharge the duties of PVA.
One PVA at One Salary
The Fayette County Young Democrats are committed to promoting good government! O’Neill’s predecessor and now opponent quit halfway through her term to collect a handsome pension. She is now asking the taxpayers of Fayette County to pay her this pension and the PVA salary simultaneously. During this time of financial uncertainty, and in general, the Fayette County Young Democrats believe this practice of “double dipping” in wasteful and wrong. With David O’Neill taxpayers get a better PVA working for one salary.
“David is a role model for young people interested in public service. His commitment to do what is right is inspiring and I am glad we have this chance to support his candidacy,” commented Colmon Elridge, on the unanimous passage of this endorsement – the last vote in Elridge’s successful tenure as President of the Fayette County YDs. This is the first time the Fayette County Young Democrats have endorsed a candidate in the party’s primary. Clint Morris, Vice President, stated, “David’s record speaks for itself. In his one year in office, he has managed to cut costs and raise efficiency all the while increasing the quality of services provided to the public. As Democrats, we should work to place candidates on the November ballot that exemplify our values: honesty, hard work, transparency and financial responsibility! David O’Neill, our PVA, is a great public servant and one that the Fayette County Young Democrats are proud to support!”
For Information Contact: Clint Morris, FCYD Vice President
Phone: 859.536.4532
Email: clintmorris@gmail.com
This is politics at its best. This separates tea-baggers from their rhetoric and shows them for what they are. We won’t see one tea-bagger at a David O’Neill rally supporting his candidacy.
From my perch – he is One Boss Dude!
Not questioning that O’ Neill is a good guy or that True isn’t. Wondering about State Party By-Laws and Primary endorsements.
The State Party website is all but an auxiliary website for the governor, as if the State Committee has endorsed his reelection. More than a few committee members have expressed the opinion that they’d have a better shot in November 2011 with Crit Luallen or Greg Stumbo running on a ticket – preferably both – on the same ticket. The only argument is who’s on top.
Now the Fayette County YDs have endorsed a candidate in a Primary. Isn’t their a State By-Law against Party committees making endorsements, even apparently very good ones, as this one appears to be?
I used to follow the By-Law wars at the State Party but they seem to have died down. Who is in charge of the By-Laws anymore?
The only serious talking about Stumbo is supposed to be coming from a disgruntled former party insider, who was angry about being removed. I’ve always thought Stumbo would have a cakewalk if he waits until Rogers retires and goes for that congressional seat, but I don’t know if that has appeal to him.
I keep hearing Luallen won’t try, but I don’t know if that’s correct.
As far as rules and bylaws, I have no idea on any of that. I don’t have any position in the Fayette or state party.
Party by-laws carry no effect, other than for party discipline. If the party in its collective bears wisdom that a candidate is unethical or is likely to pursue an unethical coarse (sic – pun intended) while in office, is there any other mechanism to forestall the candidacy?
It is my understanding that the YDs are a separate entity from the State/County Party. They have a different tax status, governing documents, etc. YDs generally avoid endorsing candidates as a courtesy – but can you blame them in this instance? She is exactly the kind of candidate the party DOES NOT NEED! I am glad someone is standing up to her.
Renee True is atrocious and I agree with WayToGo, but one question. Was that the full release? If so, I’m very disappointed that they failed to disclose the relationship between the current president of Fayette County Young Democrats, and ONeill. Ewen is an assistant in the P.V.A. office and this conflict of interest should have been made known.
Hey disappointed – I’m a little disappointed that you’re so quick to cut down the hardworking Young Democrats. This was Colmon Elridge’s last act as President of Fayette YDs, had little to do with current President.
When did I cut down the Young Democrats or the P.V.A.? I didn’t.
Ewen was Vice President even when Eldridge was President, but still this release was issued from the new set of officers. They should have disclosd it, plain and simple.
Disapp has a point. This is an opportunity to learn. Everyone take a deep breath; find someone to hug and coalesce to defeat True and any shizball the repubs put up. Band together to defeat Barr as well!
Ms. Ewen abstained from voting in the decision to endorse. If you are so interested in the actions of the FCYD, I suggest you come to a meeting. They’re open to the public.
I’m no longer a young Democrat and all this issue, to me, is an opportuity to learn.
Want a tutor?
Leave the bickering to the True folks, gather your friends and neighbors to vote for Mr. O’Neill.
The words honest and ethical are used repeatedly to describe O’Neill, and yet, the honest and ethical man has a hit and run, along with many no insurance citations, on his record. Look it up! If you don’t agree with what True is doing then don’t vote for her, but to make O’Neill a “role model” is a joke. What True is doing is legal. Hit and runs and driving without insurance are not. I find humerous that the types of cars they used in the parade was a topic in this article. Most people borrow cars for a parade to look nice. Maybe O’Neill is still driving that car cause he can’t afford to insure a nicer one due to his driving record. Ewen does work in his office as his right hand. They have connecting offices. I believe that would be a conflict of interest but instead it was the “ethical choice.”
There is always a choice between candiates to be made, “honest?”.
According to you, David has violations, including no insurance. That’s not good. How long ago they were is not known. Ewen (according to the above) didn’t have take part in the endorsement, which is the ethical thing to do.
But compare that to Renee True. Years ago, she married a man named Renee True, who was the elected PVA. When he left the office, she deceived voters into thinking they were still voting for him. That, as opposed to any sort of responsible stewardship, was enough for her to get in.
Renee True has not denied in the slightest that she committed breaches of the public trust including nepotism that are a form of stealing public dollars from the citizens who elected her. Think about that. That’s about as bad as it gets, even in Kentucky.
Her “defense” is simply that the ethical rules are something she doesn’t have to follow. In other words, Renee True has argued in court that she should be allowed to be as unethical as she wants to be.
She quit halfway through her term to gig taxpayers, and left a bloated budget of waste that O’Neill has cut down on. Now, she’s deceiving voters again by suggesting that she’s never left office by using the very deceptive term “Re-Elect” Renee True.
So my choice remains David O’Neill. He’s cut down on the office budget, he has voluntarily abided by the ethics rules (both state and local), and he looks like a saint compared to Renee True.
Saints don’t get DUIs. How did she steal money from taxpayers? It is true “re-elect.” She has been elected to the office before. I will vote for her again over that criminal!
People who put someone into a job because they’re related are stealing money. It’s a fine old Kentucky tradition. She’s a quitter. Will she quit again if somebody pays her enough money?
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Congrats, David!